Van Persie accuses Adebayor of "malicious" stamp

12 September 2009 21:03
Arsenal forward Robin van Persie accused former strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor of a "mindless and malicious stamp" during Manchester City's 4-2 win over the London club at Eastlands Saturday.[LNB] "I am sad and disappointed by...Adebayor's mindless and malicious stamp on me..." the Netherlands striker said in a statement on Arsenal's official website (www.arsenal.com) after the match.[LNB] "We are both professional footballers and I know that the game is physical, I too have made hard and sometimes mistimed challenges but never with the intention of hurting an opponent.[LNB] "He set out to hurt me today. He has shown a real lack of class," the 26-year-old added.[LNB] Speaking to Sky Sports after the match Adebayor said there was no intent on his part to hurt his opponent and that any contact had been accidental.[LNB] "I did not have time to take back my feet," the Togo international said. "Because I was trying to kick the ball my feet touched his head. At the end of the game I told him I'm very sorry."[LNB] Adebayor also apologised for running the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the visiting Arsenal fans the goal he scored in City's victory.[LNB] That earned him a booking and he told Sky Sports: "I shouldn't have done what I did but the emotion took over me and I'm sorry for what I've done."[LNB] (Reporting by Tom Pilcher, Editing by Dave Thompson)

Source: Eurosport